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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Lysne, (Helen) Pauline

Age 102

LYSNE, (Helen) Pauline Passed away on November 13, 2012, in Republic, Washington, her home for over 80 years.

She was 102.

Pauline was born in Pleasanton, Nebraska on September 14, 1910 to John and Bessie Truax.

Her brother Harold was born in 1912.

The family moved to Oroville, Washington in 1920 where her sister Ruby was born later that year.

Pauline married (Samuel) Walter Thompson in October, 1929 and moved from Oroville to Republic the following year.

Their daughter, Helen, was born in 1930 and son, Richard, in 1935.

Walt worked for Union Oil until his death in 1950.

With the help of logging and ranching friends, Pauline convinced the company to let her take over the business.

She became Union Oil’s first female consignee and worked for them for 14 years.

During this time, she purchased property and built a cabin on Curlew Lake, near Blacks Beach Resort, that later became her permanent residence.

Pauline retired in 1964.

In 1969, Pauline married Johan Lysne.

The couple lived in Seattle until Johan retired from the Navy a year later.

They returned to Republic and lived at Curlew Lake for the next 33 years.

Johan passed away in 2004.

Pauline moved to an apartment in Republic and finally settled at the Klondike Hills Assisted Living.

Over the years, Pauline was an active member of Eastern Star, the Presbyterian Church and its Ladies’ Aid and numerous other community activities.

Surrounding herself with friends and family was very important to her.

She loved to entertain.

One of her favorite things to do was to make an appearance dressed up in her “silly old lady” disguise and carry on while people tried to avoid her or get her to leave.

Her last “performance” was at Klondike Hills on Halloween at the age of 100!

Pauline had a beautiful singing voice and loved to dance.

She was one of the early Prospectors’ Days can-can girls.

Knitting and playing bridge were favorite past-times.

She told of wonderful bridge parties during her early days in Republic.

Pauline is survived by her daughter Helen Schertenleib, son Richard Thompson, step-son Gary Lysne (Christi) and Roberta Lysne, along with many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in the spring.

Memorial donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Republic and/or the Ferry County Memorial Hospital.

The family would like to thank the staff at Klondike Hills for its devotion and loving care of our beloved Pauline.